Musa acuminata Dwarf Banana PFAF Plant Database

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Musa acuminata - Colla.

Common Name

Dwarf Banana

Family

Musaceae

Synonyms

Known Hazards

None known

Habitats

Shaded and moist ravines, marshlands, semi-marshlands and slopes from near sea level to 1200 metres[266].

Range

E. Asia - Southern China, India, Malaysia and the Phillipines.

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Care

Summary

Physical Characteristics
Musa acuminata is a PERENNIAL growing to 3 m (9ft 10in). It is hardy to zone 9 and is frost tender. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.


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Habitats
South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Fruit. Edible Uses: Fruit - raw or dried for later use[177]. Sweet[46, 166]. The fruit is up to 12cm long and 2.5cm wide[200].

Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally. None known

Other Uses
None known

Cultivation details

Requires a sunny sheltered position in a well-drained fertile soil with a pH between 6 and 7.5[200]. This species is able to tolerate light frosts, but it requires a very sheltered position[166]. Another report says that it requires a minimum winter temperature of 10°c and no lower than 18°c when the fruit is ripening[200]. Wild plants are diploid (2n = 22) and bear fruits containing numerous seeds making them inedible. Cultivated plants are triploid (2n = 33) and bear seedless, edible fruits; such plants have been called M. acuminata ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ (M. cavendishii Lambert ex Paxton; M. chinensis Sweet; M. nana Loureiro)[266].

Propagation

Seed - sow the large seed in individual pots in the spring in a warm greenhouse at about 20°c[200]. Grow the seedlings on in a rich soil, giving occasional liquid feeds. Keep the plants in the greenhouse for at least three years before trying them outdoors. Division of suckers in late spring. Dig up the suckers with care, trying to cause the least disturbance to the main plant. Pot them up and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a greenhouse until they are well established.

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Expert comment

Author
Colla.

Botanical References
200266

Links / References

[46]Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants.

An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[166]Taylor. J. The Milder Garden.

A good book on plants that you didn't know could be grown outdoors in Britain.

[177]Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption.

An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.

[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.

Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[266] Flora of China

On-line version of the Flora - an excellent resource giving basic info on habitat and some uses.

Readers comment

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